AVIATION WEATHER PRODUCTS

Runway Visual Range

Bureau of Meteorology › Aviation Weather Services

Introduction
Runway Visual Range (RVR) provides pilots, air traffic service (ATS) units and other
aeronautical users with information on runway visibility conditions during periods of
low visibility. Low visibility is defined by the RVR system as visibilities below 2000m.
The most frequent cause of low visibility is due to mist or fog however other common
causes include rain, snow, and sandstorms. More specifically, the RVR system
assesses whether conditions are above or below a specified operating minima for
take-off and landing. In Australia RVR readings from instrumented systems are limited
to reduced visibility events due to mist or fog.

Data obtained from the RVR system is one parameter used for assessing the availability
of instrument approaches for an aerodrome. RVR is an assessment of the runway
Key requirements for RVR visual range and it may not be representative of other areas of the aerodrome such as
taxiways. RVR systems are available at some major airports in Australia, such as Sydney
• Background light level; and and Melbourne, and is planned to be installed at other major airports in the future.
• Intensity of runway lights.
RVR is not an ‘observation’ or a ‘measurement’ of a meteorological parameter such
as surface wind, temperature or pressure. It is an assessment, based on calculations
that take into account various elements including atmospheric, physical/biological and
In assessing RVR, no operational factors.
account is taken of the
effect on the pilot’s vision
of such factors as: Definitions
• Transmittance of the Visibility
windscreen; Visibility for aeronautical purposes is the greater of:
• Rain on the windscreen; (a) the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated
near the ground, can be seen and recognized when observed against a bright
• Cockpit lighting;
background, which is represented by the meteorological optical range (MOR);
• Pilot exposure to other light
sources; (b) the greatest distance at which lights in the vicinity of 1 000 candelas can be seen
and identified against an unlit background, which is represented by RVR or Runway
• Physical or psychological Visibility.
state of the pilot;
Note: Given the distances are measured using different measurement techniques the two
• Directionality of background distances may be different.
luminance; and
• Increase in background Runway Visual Range (RVR)
luminance from backscatter Runway visual range is the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centre line
of aircraft landing lights. of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway
or identifying its centre line. In Australia RVR is used exclusively in relation to RVR
measured by an instrumented system.

View from the cockpit when the aircraft is on the centre of a runway indicating Runway Visual
Range or runway visibility.
 Runway Visibility (RV)
Note: RVR applies only for the
Runway visibility is the distance along a runway over which a person can see and
visual range on the runway.
recognise a visibility marker or runway lights. In Australia the term ‘runway visibility’ is
The conditions during approach
used by ATC, pilots or ground personnel authorised to report visibility along a runway
may be significantly different.
as determined by a ground observer.
Until the pilot is actually on
the runway, the view from the Meteorological Optical Range (MOR)
cockpit down to the ground Meteorological optical range is defined as is the greatest distance at which a black
represents rather a slant object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can be seen and recognized
visual range (SVR) and as when observed against a bright background. In Australia MOR is measured by a
such may be affected by fog visibility sensor or observed by a qualified meteorological observer.
densities varying with height.

View of an airport indicating the prevailing visibility.

Slant Visual Range (SVR)

The visual range of a specified object or light along a line of sight which differs
significantly from the horizontal; for example, the visual range of ground objects or
lights as seen from an aircraft on the approach.

Slant visual range of the runway as seen from an aircraft on the approach.

Measurement or observing practices

There are currently two main observing techniques in use for the assessment of visibility
along a runway; RVR, the instrument technique and RV, the human observer technique.

Instrumented technique
Transmissometers are instruments used to measure the light transmittance of the
atmosphere. RVR is then calculated taking into account the measured quantity (i.e.
transmittance), runway light levels and the expected detection sensitivity of the pilot’s
eye under the prevailing conditions of background luminance.

Human observer technique

The human observer technique to measure runway visibility relies upon a trained
observer at the aerodrome to count the number of runway lights or markers visible
from a specified observing position near the runway in accordance with CASA Manual
of Standards Part 139. This number is converted to a runway visibility, making due
allowance for the differences in light intensity and background luminance from the
different viewing positions of the observer and the pilot. Sometimes, where it is
difficult to count runway lights, observations are made on a special row of runway or
Transmissometer at Perth Airport. other lights set up near the runway.
 Due to its inherent weaknesses, the human observer method is typically only used
Limitations of using RVR under the following circumstances:
data
(a) at an aerodrome with low frequency of occurrence of fog, or any other weather
RVR use has practical phenomena reducing RVR below 1500 m (not recommended for Categories II & III);
limitations as follows: (b) for non-precision approach runways; and
• RVR is a value which typically (c) as a back-up in case of failure of the instrumented system (not recommended for
only has meaning for the Categories II and III).
portions of the runway
associated with the RVR Instrumented Approach and landing
report (TDZ, MID, or END).
Category Height Visibility RVR
• RVR may vary with runway I ≥ 200ft (60m) ≥ 800m ≥ 550m
light step settings.
II ≥ 100ft (30m) but < 200ft (60m) Not applicable ≥ 300m
• RVR may not be IIIa < 100ft (30m) or no decision height Not applicable ≥ 175m
representative of actual (i.e. 0ft)
visibility along portions of the
IIIb < 50ft (15m) or no decision height Not applicable ≥ 50m but < 175m
runway due to the location (i.e. 0ft)
of the transmissometer
or due to variable weather IIIc No decision height (i.e. 0ft) Not applicable No RVR limits (i.e. 0m)
conditions (e.g. patchy fog). Content from ICAO Annex 6 and Annex 14.
RVR is an instrumentally
derived value that has
operationally significant
Reporting procedures
limitations and can be
RVR information is included in METAR/SPECI whenever either the prevailing visibility
greater than or less than the
or RVR is less than 1 500 m.
actual visibility available to a
pilot at typical flight deck eye The RVR at a runway’s threshold in the METAR/SPECI is given by RDD[r]/[n]
height (ground level) at the V1V1V1V1 [V[n]V2V2V2V2][i]
runway. This is particularly
true at night, if runway lights RVR is reported in steps of:
are not at settings standard
for the prevailing conditions,
(a) 25 metres when the RVR is less than 400 metres;
or if unusual daylight (b) 50 metres when the RVR is 400 metres or more, but less than 800 metres; and
conditions are experienced
(c) 100 metres when the RVR is 800 metres or more.
such as when a runway is
aligned with a sunrise or Any observed value which does not fit the reporting scale is rounded down to the
sunset condition, in shallow nearest resolution value. RVR can be assessed from more than one location along the
or patchy fog. runway, i.e., the value representative at touchdown zone (TDZ), mid-point (MID) and
roll - out portion (END). However, in METAR/SPECI only the value representative of the
touchdown zone is given, and no indication of location on the runway is included.
The RVR is also transmitted to aircraft by ATS units, via data link (i.e. D-ATIS,
D-VOLMET) or via aeronautical broadcasts (i.e. ATIS, VOLMET).
When the RVR is to be reported and RVR data is unavailable, it will be reported as
RDD////

CODE DESCRIPTION
R A fixed indicator, denoting that RVR information follows
DD Designator for the runway for which RVR is being reported
r Parallel runways will be distinguished by the letter L, C or R indicating the
left, centre or right runway, respectively.
/ A fixed separator
n will only be reported when the RVR is assessed to be one of the following:
• greater than 2000 metres, in which case n will be reported as P, and the
group will be reported as P2000;
• greater than the maximum value which can be assessed by the system,
and this maximum value is 2000 metres or less, in which case n will be
reported as P, and VVVV will report the maximum value, e.g. P1700;
• less than 50 metres, in which case n will be reported as M, and the
group will be reported as M0050;
• less than the minimum value which can be assessed by the system,
and this minimum value is 50 metres or more, in which case n will be
reported as M, and VVVV will report the minimum value, e.g. M0100.
 Common weather phenomena CODE DESCRIPTION
reducing visibility
V1V1V1V1 Gives the last 10-minute average RVR value, except when the RVR has
Phenomenon Typical MOR varied significantly during the 10 minutes in which case it gives the
values (m) minimum 1-minute average value during this period (and is followed by
V[n]V2V2V2V2).
Fog 30 – 1000
V A conditional indicator, included only when RVR has varied significantly
Mist 1000 – 5000
during the last 10 minutes.
Haze 1000 – 5000 V2V2V2V2 Gives the maximum one-minute average value during the last ten minutes.
Only included when RVR has varied significantly during the ten minutes.
Drizzle > 1000
i Gives any distinct RVR tendency over the sampling period – either U
Rain > 1000
(upward), D (downward) or N (nil). Is not reported if tendency not available.

Content from ICAO Doc 9328 –

Manual of Runway Visual Range
Observing and Reporting Practices. SPECI YMML 221945Z 14004KT 0600 R16/0600D R27/0550N FG ////// 08/08 Q1026 RMK
RF000.0/001.8
R16/0600D Runway visual range on runway 16 threshold is 600 metres, and is
trending down.

SPECI YMML 221945Z 14004KT 0600 R16/0600D R27/0550N FG ////// 08/08 Q1026 RMK
RF000.0/001.8
R16/0600D Runway visual range on runway 16 threshold is 600 metres, and is
trending down.
R27/0550N Runway visual range on runway 27 threshold is 550 metres; nil trend.

SPECI YSSY 052000Z 33006KT 0500 R34L/0600N R34R/1200V1800D FG ////// 16/15

Q1006 RF000.0/000.0
R34L/0600N Runway visual range data on runway 34L threshold is 600 metres; nil
trend.
R34R/1200V1800D Runway visual range on runway 34R threshold is 1200 metres with
variation to 1800 metres during the last 10 minutes and is trending
down.

SPECI YSSY 052000Z 33006KT 0500 R34L/0600N R34R/1200V1800D FG ////// 16/15

Q1006 RF000.0/000.0
R34L/0600N Runway visual range data on runway 34L threshold is 600 metres; nil
trend.
R34R/1200V1800D Runway visual range on runway 34R threshold is 1200 metres with
variation to 1800 metres during the last 10 minutes and is trending down.

SPECI YMML 06182000Z 12005KT 0500 R16///// FG ////// 07/07 Q1022 RMK
RF000.0/000.0
R16///// Runway visual range data on runway 16 is not available.

References
ICAO Annex 3 – Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation
ICAO Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft, Part I, International Commercial Air Transport – Aeroplanes
ICAO Annex 14 – Aerodromes, Volume I, Aerodrome Design and Operations
ICAO Doc. 8896 – Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice
ICAO Doc. 9328 – Manual of Runway Visual Range Observing and Reporting Practices
ICAO Doc. 9365 – Manual of All Weather Operations
ICAO Doc. 9837 – Manual on Automatic Meteorological Observing Systems at Aerodromes
CASA Manual of Standards Part 139 – Aerodromes

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© Commonwealth of Australia, Version 1.0, 24 August 2015